Different forms of art
intertwine on the nine-piece band’s most ambitious concert so
Ben&Ben are redefining the virtual
concert-going experience with the biggest headline show of their career.
Aptly
titled Kuwaderno: A Ben&Ben Online Concert, the Filipino
nine-piece collective are pushing the boundaries of music shows in the new
normal setting by integrating creative disciplines such as drama, dance,
orchestra, and technology with a live performance. Their highly anticipated
major concert will be staged at the SMART Araneta Coliseum, and will be
streamed live on December 5, 2021, from 8pm to 11pm via digital streaming
platform, KTX.ph.
“We
can’t deny the fact that it’s the biggest project we’ve undertaken so far, and
I think you just somehow know that it’s a leap of faith when the streams of
guidance and providence lead you to the right people who believe in the same
vision you have: To bring the music and the messages they carry to life,” the
award-winning group said. “This spirit of collaboration was one of the defining
themes of our album ‘Pebble House Volume One: Kuwaderno’ and it was only
by natural desire that we brought the same spirit and attitude when we began
working on the concert. As for the play between grand and intimate, we really
wanted our listeners to relish in the grandiosity of what their support means
to us. Doing a concert on this scale and bringing them closer into that bigger
picture is our way of expressing immense gratitude to them as well.”
The
audio-visual spectacle promises to bring the immense joy of experiencing live
music and give an impression of conceptual grandness that are at par with the
most memorable concerts in recent history. From mounting multiple-stage setups
to performing in one of the biggest live music venues in the country, Kuwaderno
aims to open new possibilities despite the limitations of the platform, and
intimately build a connection with the audience all over the world.
The
awe-inspiring creativity and ambition that Kuwaderno dares to achieve,
wouldn’t be possible without the collaborators that painstakingly put their
heart and soul into the project. Concert director Paolo Valenciano, along with
co-director Maribel Legarda, Philippine Theater Association (PETA), and veteran
light designer Shakira Villa-Symes—to name a few, understood Ben&Ben’s
unique vision and translated them so clearly to create a cohesive piece of
work. Ben&Ben attest to how significant their contributions are, not only
in turning the concert into a reality, but in making sure that they are able to
nurture a creative environment that promotes healthy exchange of ideas. “Working
closely with them on this concert only made it clearer to us why they are the
biggest names in the industry. The flow of ideas and creative energies really
went on naturally because of their openness, and their generosity to share with
us their thoughts, but what makes them more admirable is their skill to work
within the limitations that we have and to adapt when faced with challenges. We
definitely learned a lot from their work ethic.”
Believing
in the magic that happens when different forms of art intertwine, the prolific
folk-pop asserts that some feelings are best conveyed not just by the music
elements alone. This prompted Ben&Ben and their team to include actors and
dancers as part of the visual narrative to give the audience a semblance of
being physically present with them throughout the concert journey. “Movement
and dance and the entire visual narrative of it all woven into our music
brought our songs to life,” the band said in a statement. “The talented dancers
we’ve worked with, headed by choreographer Gio Gahol, are from different dance
groups as well. It is amazing to see how they seem to get along and dance so
passionately with each other easily.”
In
terms of production design, the team stepped up their game in being more in
line with the times, and pushing the envelope in terms of how the music can be
represented visually. According to the nine-piece ensemble, each stage has its
own purpose, its own symbolisms and visual elements. Even the lighting has its
own poignant significance. “We want our listeners to know that each piece of
the puzzle was thoughtfully included, and we’re excited to see them piece
everything together when they watch the full show.”
The
band is confident that Kuwaderno: A Ben&Ben Online Concert will not
only deliver unparalleled innovation to local concert productions, but also
bring light to a lot of people suffering in silence during the most challenging
of times. “Having the opportunity to do so during the pandemic, we also felt
such a huge responsibility to be able to inspire more people with stories of
humanity and hope. We’ve received a lot of messages from Liwanag (the
fan club) telling us how the band has helped them get through the tough times.
Hopefully through this concert, we’ll be able to use our platform in making
them feel that they’re not alone in this fight.”
Ms.
Val Guico, the General Manager of Ben&Ben Music Productions, is also
equally grateful to the people involved in the production for making strides in
pulling off an envelope-pushing event. According to her, one of the main goals
of mounting Kuwaderno is to extend help to the production team whose
livelihood and work have been greatly affected by the pandemic. “Bulk of the
concert earnings will be shared to everyone behind the scenes,” the concert
producer reveals. “They are the unsung heroes of the show. Without them, we
wouldn’t be able to bring Ben&Ben’s vision to life.”
Tickets
to Kuwaderno: A Ben&Ben Online Concert can be purchased via
the KTX website. The TINATANGI package (priced at PHP
8,000), which gives you access to the online concert, plus an Exclusive 1 on 1 Harana
Session with the band on Zoom and a raffle entry to the Exclusive Ben&Ben
House Tour, is already SOLD OUT. Other ticket tiers that are still
available include KAIBIGAN (priced at PHP 1,000), MAGKA-IBIGAN (priced at PHP
3,500), and MAHIWAGA (priced at PHP 5,500)—all containing different packages
and inclusions.
Kuwaderno: A Ben&Ben Online Concert is brought to you by Ben&Ben
Music Productions and SMART Telecommunications Inc., and is co-presented by
Philippine Educational Theater Association (PETA), Sony Music Philippines, Big
Bulb, Chapters, Robinson’s Mall, KTX.ph, Elesi, Cream Silk, Primo, Phirst Park
Homes, Novotel, JB Music, Urban Smiles, Summit, Philippine Red Cross, Sennheiser, Verona Audio
Design, and Jilla Sara. Special thanks to the media partners: MYX, 96.3 Easy
Rock, and Wish 107.5.
---I attended the virtual conference
